SHINING LOTUS™ METAPHYSICAL BOOKSTORE NEWSLETTER
The Original Metaphysical Bookstore, since 1972
JUNE 2014
2178 South Colorado Blvd, Denver Colorado 80222
303-758-9113
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in this issue
AUTHOR VISIT & BOOK SIGNING with Mark Michaels and Patricia Johnson, author of PARTNERS IN PASSION: A GUIDE TO GREAT SEX, EMOTIONAL INTIMACY AND LONG-TERM LOVE
GREEN YOURSELF AND GROW YOURSELF with James Wanless, Ph.D.
AUTHOR VISIT & BOOK SIGNING with Karen Fox, Ph.D., author of BUILD YOUR PSYCHIC SKILLS: A 90-DAY PLAN
COMPARATIVE STILLNESS by Pura Isham
WHEN LIFE IS A LEMON…THROW IT BACK! by Mario C. Veo
LET’S GET STONED by Meghan Taft
PLANETS AND POSSIBILITIES: A LOOK AT THE ASTROLOGY OF JUNE by Sally Shotwell
ARROWS by Drusant
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ETHERIC BODY by Bruce Johnson
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Mercury Retrograde starts June 7 and continues all month. This month’s Mountain Astrologer has an article written by Kenneth Johnson that makes the point: The June 2014 retrograde cycle is a potent one, due to Mercury’s passage through its own sign of Gemini, the mind is drawn toward wisdom and knowledge. A focus on Wisdom and Knowledge is always our main intention.
A Mercury Retrograde does not mean everything you do this month will have to be done over, nor does it mean you should not sign a contract or move ahead with any project. Maybe what needs to happen is a more involved interest in these types of activities. A second look at the steps in your project or go over the language in your contract again. Often, I find mistakes that have been made during the Mercury Direct period that can then be corrected during the Retrograde. Whatever your connection with Mercury going forward or backward, communication of any kind is important in all our human relationships.
Sally Shotwell writes about the value of being prepared for the Summer Solstice this month in her look at the astrology of June, Mario C. Veo has focused on self-empowerment with classes on Happiness, Creation, Sex, and Life.
Bruce Johnson writes about the Importance of the Etheric Body, and James Wanless will be presenting a class all about Sustainability. We will also be welcoming Mark Michaels and Patricia Johnson to present their new book, “Partners In Passion”. It’s gonna be a great month!!
Many Blessings,
The Shining Lotus staff
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AUTHOR VISIT & BOOK SIGNING
MARK MICHAELS & PATRICIA JOHNSON
authors of Partners In Passion, A Guide to Great Sex, Emotional Intimacy and Long-Term Love.
Monday, June 23, 2014. 7 – 8:30 pm. FREE PRESENTATION.
Tantra uses sexual energy for consciousness expansion. In other words you can think whatever thoughts, use whatever implements, and be with whomever you wish, as long as that gets you into a highly charged erotic state. This is where the magic can begin to happen. Join us for an honest discussion in which we will dispel some of the popular myths surrounding this ancient tradition. You will learn that elements of Tantric philosophy and practice can be easily applied to our modern lives in ways that do more than simply improve our sexual experiences. Call 303-758-9113 to register.
About the Authors:
A graduate of NYU and Yale, Mark A Michaels writes for scholarly and legal publications and his plays have been produced off-Broadway. He took his first Tantra class in 1997 and gave his first lecture on the subject two years later.
Patricia Johnson spent many years as a professional operatic soprano. In 1999, a longstanding interest in Tantra inspired her to attend a lecture by Mark Michaels, now her husband and collaborator. Since then, she and Michaels have taught and lectured throughout the world. They live in New York City.
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GREEN YOURSELF AND GROW YOURSELF
with James Wanless, Ph.D.
Wednesday, June 25, 2014. 7 – 9 pm. $20.
With the green wisdom in the “Sustain Yourself Cards” by James Wanless, Ph.D., learn how to use these nature cards as your coach to grow into your apotheosis – your highest expression of yourself. You will experience the “Growth Tree” Reading to see your organic unfoldment like a tree – how to plant your seed potentials and intention into full fruition. It’s your unique and fun-filled opportunity to connect with your own nature and be renewed by the insight and inspiration of James Wanless, a modern-day Green Man, and author of “Adventures with Greening Man” and “Sustainable Life: The New Success”. Call 303-758-9113 to register.
James Wanless, author of his most current and seminal work, “Sustainable Life: The New Success” puts him in the forefront of new thinking for these new times. At 70 years-young, Wanless is an expert in personal sustainability. He has successfully reinvented and renewed himself professionally and personally.
Self-Sustainability is the New Success – an inspired, evolved way of life. Sustainability requires applying universal eco-principles to live Whole – how to be Happy, Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise. This training teaches you how to coach yourself to become more self-sustaining and develops your skills to use these principles for coaching others to create their own Whole Life.??
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AUTHOR VISIT & BOOK SIGNING
KAREN FOX, Ph.D.
Author of Build Your Psychic Skills: The 90-Day Plan.
Saturday, June 14, 2014. 2 – 3:30 pm. FREE PRESENTATION.
Explore your potential — develop your psychic sense! While everyone is natural psychic, psychic ability must be nurtured and learned. Everyone can improve their innate psychic sense. This 90-Day Plan is designed to help readers take small steps each day, so that, in just three months, they can learn everything they need to develop psychic abilities: a quiet mind and body; an open, curious mind; good psychic boundaries; a knowledge of how your mind works; and, of course, how to best practice your skills! The color-coded cards are organized by day of the week to make practice easy and foolproof, and each day has a particular psychic focus so you can increase your skill level efficiently, without growing bored by rote and repetitious exercises. It’s easy and fun, and you will discover your psychic ability getting stronger each day! Call 303-758-9113 to register.
Karen Fox, Ph.D. is not a typical psychic. She has developed her left, analytical brain as well as her psychic sense. Karen achieved her doctorate in Sociology from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. I value intellectual curiosity. Set aside pre-conceived notions about things psychic, and consider there is an aspect of your mind that you aren’t tapping. Karen established the Aspen Program for Psychic Development based in metro Denver, Colorado, where people interested in developing their psychic abilities find comfort with an instructor coming from a mainstream perspective. Karen is a professional psychic, medical intuitive, and spirit medium.
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COMPARATIVE STILLNESS: THE MONKEY MIND & THE AWARENESS OF THE INTERACTION OF THE SUBTLE BODIES
by Pura Isham
How often do we sit down and engage ourselves with the guidelines we have learned from someone or from some written materials with the sole purpose of experiencing stillness? Stillness of the mind and the slowing down of the interferences of the Ego happen and they happen comparatively to our experiences of stillness, quietness, calmness, and relaxation. Yet my awareness of stillness begins with my realization that it is the I of my physical form, of my emotional body that are still while I have been focusing on my monkey mind and its influences. When is it going to quiet down??
Well, it was with a kind of soothing awareness that I realized that my physical form along with my emotional body have been calmed down even though my monkey mind was quietly, to a certain extent, on and off. A minutia of a realization, of an awareness, but an awareness nevertheless.
As I deepen my awareness of my physical and emotional relaxation, I noticed what I am choosing to call Comparative Minutia because these subtle ties have been taking place and I was not aware of them. I was busy paying attention to some degrees to the unsettled state of my monkey mind.
An interesting thing came to my attention: Minutia Hunger and its ties to the monkey mind, the Ego. This is my binding to objects, to things, which in turn feeds the Minutia Hunger and consequently gives tools with which the monkey mind will then work.
The question is: If I were not to be bound by this Minutia Hunger and its offspring(objects, things), why do I still keep them(objects, things that I don’t use or have a need for)? What do I get from this internal/external exploration of my Comparative Awareness of myself and my immediate environment(my home)?
I don’t quite have the answers to these questions yet, but it has been fruitful to explore my interaction with these concepts – Comparative Stillness, Comparative Awareness, Comparative Minutia and Minutia Hunger.
From comparative stillness to comparative awareness to comparative minutia hunger resulting in experiencing calmness, relaxation, and to some level or degrees of stillness(body, emotion, mind). I have become aware that a slow, for now, process of that in breaking the barriers(veils) of teaching(there is a lesson to be learned in everything) this awareness has taken place. Stillness with its sacred vibration, the subtle bodies with their interactions and beneficial shiftings have connected, enhanced and intertwined a plethora of Comparative Minutiae.
Pura Isham is a student of spirituality, metaphysics and esoteric subjects. As a very inquisitive person, Pura has been studying these areas for many years, most recently with her teacher, Mario C. Veo. We thank her for the inspiration she is to us, and letting us peek through this window to her personal spiritual path.
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WHEN LIFE IS A LEMON…THROW IT BACK!
by Mario C. Veo
Far too often we’ve been told “don’t rock the boat…we can’t all be millionaires…make the best of what you have…” and my favorite, “hey, at least he doesn’t hit me…” (a poor excuse for staying in a blah marriage!)
My view of Life is very different – I see it as an endless opportunity for discovery, an exciting adventure where I am uncovering greater and greater Insights – about myself and what makes this crazy world tick…(or not – you can thank your politicians for that!)
Yes, I have been half way around the world and back, and I can tell you that people – everywhere – are pretty much the same…some are good, sensible, basically nice people…while others are the reason why there is still so much conflict and chaos (you’d think that, if we are truly ‘made in God’s image’, then someone has sneaked in some poor, cheap reproductions!)
So, we all now have a choice – we can either start “Thinking for ourselves” (oh, what a novel idea!)…or accept that we are simple sheep, and we actually like to be led around by our noses (baaah humbug!)
There is so much manipulation going on everywhere…so much greed and exploitation that I sometime wonder when it will all implode…and then I meet some wonderful people – people who are joyful and radiant, who haven’t lost that spontaneous laughter, that still embrace Life abundantly…(and my faith is once again restored). OK, now it is time to do something about this. It is time to really look at the Concept of Self-Empowerment…and how our Power is taken away…who and what sabotages us…who tells us that “we can’t do that…“.
It is time to stop allowing others to dictate to us just how much ‘fun’we can have (it doesn’t look like their portions are adequate)…after all, we are created in God’s Image. So, we are all ‘Creators in our own Right’…and don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise!
I’m dedicating this month to Self-Empowerment (yes!), and what we can do – effectively – to reclaim Life Abundant (yep, it is still out there…but…where are you…!!?!).
Mario C. Veo was born in Italy and grew up in Africa. From an early age his love for Spirituality and Metaphysics led him to explore a wide range of disciplines. He has studied with Sufis, Shamans and Spiritual Masters from around the world. Mario is a senior T’ai Chi and Chi Gong instructor, a Spiritual Counselor, Shaman and Healer, and teaches classes and individuals on Personal Transformation, Empowerment, Manifestation and Spiritual Alignments. He is available for personal guidance and consultations.
Mario is the featured reader on Tuesdays from 12:30pm to 6pm at the Shining Lotus™. He is also available from 12:30pm to 6pm on the last Sunday of every month.
TUESDAY CLASSES IN JUNE
CHOSE LIFE UNCONDITIONAL…IT’S THE ONLY WAY TO HAPPINESS
June 3, 2014. 7 – 8:30 pm. $20.
THE 4 STAGES OF CREATION
June 10, 2014. 7 – 8:30 pm. $20.
SEX AND THE SPIRITUAL PATH
June 17, 2014. 7 – 8:30 pm. $20.
WHEN LIFE BECOMES PREDICTABLE…IT’S BORING
June 24, 2014. 7 – 8:30 pm. $20.
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LET’S GET STONED!
with Meghan Taft
Second Wednesday. 7 – 8:30 pm. $5.
Alright everyone, it’s time again, I have chosen the next 3 stones from my magic box of rocks! This month we are going to go over Prehnite, Selenite, and Amethyst. All three are a wonderful trio of uniquely formed gems. Prehnite is a gemmy, green, translucent stone, sometimes formed with Epidote. Selenite is a white form of Gypsum, it has an interesting clarity in one angle, and a pearly, sheen in a different angle. And of course Amethyst, a form of Quartz, a deep, translucent purple. All three of these stones all work well together to help with one important aspect of our lives and we will discuss what that is at the next meetup , so come on down to Shining Lotus, and Let’s Get Stoned!
LET’S GET STONED…or ‘The Art of Being Distracted by Shiny Things’, is a guide for working with gemstones to help you balance your life. Doing so helps you heal yourself, manifest positive changes, and develop your psychic abilities. There are many gemstones to work with, and many different things they can do for you! We will go over the basic of the basics about gemstiones and how you can woek with them. Also, if you have any stones that you can’t identify, bring them with you and I can help you to learn how to identify your stones! We are going to have a lot of fun and I look forward to seeing you there, so come on and Let’s Get Stoned!
Meghan Taft has been studying geology and working with gemstones for 14 years. She works with gemstones by setting up grids in houses and businesses and does gemstone readings.
Please contact Meghan Taft at 303-789-0646 and ask for ext 47 to sign up for the group, admission is $5, we will go over a different set of stones each month and you will be emailed the updated info for each group.
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PLANETS AND POSSIBILITIES: A LOOK AT THE ASTROLOGY OF JUNE
by Sally Shotwell
We all recognize that we’re living in interesting times and we need to give ourselves credit for weathering challenges in order to promote our personal growth. The fact that we are becoming more aware of emotional blocks and unconscious behavior patterns arising from our unconscious is real testimony to this. Now we have to figure out how to fill these vacuums with constructive energies which help us become integrated.
Enter the Sun (our consciousness) in Gemini (communication) which is sharing the influence of Mercury to promote our mental acuity. Being able to observe circumstances from an objective point of view works wonders in making wise choices.
Mercury is in Cancer (security) until it re-enters Gemini on June 17 and, due to its going retrograde (seemingly moving backward) June 7, the emphasis will be on carefully reviewing and reflecting on how to use our physical, mental and spiritual resources as future opportunities arise. This is a time of sorting and stabilizing.
Are there areas in our life which seem to be in limbo?
What are the factors contributing to this state of affairs?
“A group of immigrants fulfilling the requirements for entering a new country”
This ruminating will pay off as we approach the Full Moon in optimistic Sagittarius on June 12. The Sabian Symbol relates to us acting on our desire to expand our horizons and tap into our courage to commit to new possibilities. Adjusting to an uncharted course requires remaining alert to what expectations accompany a new role we may embrace in unfamiliar territory. Here again, remaining alert to all nuances and environmental atmospheres are really important.
What new interests or possible changes in your role are seeming attractive?
Are there resources to tap into to receive support in facilitating the process?
On June 21, summer is ushered in with the Sun’s nurturing, watery emanation. This opens the door to the enhancement of Emotional Intelligence which boosts the thoughtful mode we are already in. We should be quite used to not letting the emotional/water element overwhelm us because we’ve been exposed to the intensity of expansive Jupiter in Cancer, serious Saturn in intense Scorpio, imaginative Neptune and unique Chiron in sensitive Pisces churning up interesting insights rising from our depths for months now.
Let’s make sure we employ the help of grounding activities and tools such as spending time in nature and Rescue Remedy if we feel a funk coming on.
“Game birds feathering their nests”
The symbol for the New Moon in Cancer June 27 is “Game birds feathering their nests” an instinctual dedication of self to new forms of life mirroring the efforts we’re engaged in that will support and sustain our creating an expanded existence.
We’ve taken our first steps in releasing ourselves from the trap of denial and are on our way to filling our lives with genuinely satisfying relationships and commitments. This is a journey and we need to keep reminding ourselves to not be critical of ourselves as we wend our way through delays and obstacles. They’re all part of the lessons we’re learning while experiencing the adventure!
Blessings!
Sally Shotwell is a life-long student of esoteric spirituality with a super-natural curiosity and an undying thirst for knowledge. Her focus on studies in Astrology have spanned decades, and have included studying with Mario C. Veo, John Joseph, Mark Husson and C. A. Brooks.
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ARROWS
by Drusant
In traffic I become disturbed by the actions of another driver.
I raise my emotional bow and shoot with great force and accuracy
This arrow straight into the heart of the unseen driver.
I tell myself that the justice of my well directed arrow
Is to let the other know of my true love for them
And it hurts me when I see them do something
Below the standard of my love.
My arrow is shot for their own benefit.
But the arrow of my love
Kills just as surely in traffic
As it does in war.
Should I be the receiver of another’s arrow,
My preference would be for the archer
To keep their love to themselves.
Is it then this adolescent love
That gives such force behind
The destruction in which we live today?
Drusant is the pen name of a long-time, faithful customer of the Shining Lotus™ Metaphysical Bookstore. A unendingly inquisitive mind that never stops asking ‘why?’ or ‘how?’, he continues to quest for esoteric, spiritual and paranormal answers in the Denver area. We are extremely grateful to him for allowing us to publish his creative writings in our newsletter and on our website. Go to www.shininglotus.com and find the search field, type “drusant” and enjoy some of his other articles.
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THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ETHERIC BODY
by Bruce Johnson
Esoteric science divides physical substance into seven types or categories. The divisions of physical matter from densest to finest are: dense solid, liquid, gaseous, etheric, super-etheric, sub-atomic, and atomic. These last four categories describe the four grades of etheric matter. Although still disbelieved in by orthodox science, etheric matter will be proven to exist within the next 75 years.
The human etheric body is a network of interlaced channels of energy constructed of the four ethers, and is the framework and pattern for the dense physical body. The etheric body is also the vehicle of pranic vitality to the solid physical body, by which the dense physical body is kept alive. Physical death results when the link between the etheric body and dense physical body is broken. Pranic life energy flows from our Sun, and is received, assimilated, and transmitted to the dense body via the etheric body, also called the etheric double. Everything in physical manifestation including minerals, plants, animals, and humans has an etheric double, which is the underlying basis for its objectivity in concrete form.
Whether a human or a planet, all manifest forms have an organ that acts as a receiver of prana for that entity. In human beings that organ is the etheric duplicate of the physical spleen. Solar life energy is drawn into the spleen chakra where it is specialized to the needs of a particular person. This life force then flows to the etheric spleen, and then to the physical spleen, and is distributed throughout the physical body.
The health of the solid physical body is dependent on the proper functioning of the etheric body. Disorders in the etheric body will be reflected in the dense physical body. Common problems of the etheric body include- insufficient vitality getting to the dense body, energy imbalances causing imbalances in physical chemistry, blocks or congestion of energy in portions of the etheric body, and under and overdeveloped chakras that cause problems in the physical organs corresponding to, and in the area of, those chakras. Headaches for example, are often caused by a congestion of etheric fluid in the head area.
Two good books about the etheric body are-The Etheric Double by A.E. Powell, and Telepathy and The Etheric Vehicle, by Alice A. Bailey.
Bruce Johnson has over 30 years of study in the fields of Ancient Wisdom and occultism. He has taught classes on a wide range of topics, from Atlantis to mediums to Zoroaster. He is also a spiritualist minister, with a background in spiritual astrology. He lives in Colorado with his wife and their cat.